Tuesday, 23 July 2013

Amo's chapter on placentation

Amo Cambridge 1972

Emmanuel Ciprian Amoroso FRS (Amo) is best remembered for his monumental chapter on Placentation written for the 1952 edition of Marshall's Physiology of Reproduction edited by A. S. Parkes (Volume II pages 127-309).

Amo was born in Trinidad and graduated in medicine from the National University of Ireland. He then spent 1930-32 in Germany and his knowledge of the German literature (almost unread in the English speaking world) was one reason his chapter was so important.

Amo then came to University College London where he completed his Ph.D. under the auspices of J. P. Hill. From there he moved to the Royal Veterinary College where he was Professor of Veterinary Physiology from 1950 to his retirement in 1968. Amo was a mentor for many scientists with distinguished careers. He continued in this role on retirement when he found a new home at the Institute of Animal Physiology at Babraham near Cambridge. He died in 1982.

An engaging account of Amo's life was written by R. V. Short (here). The true monument remains his chapter which has a place of honour on my bookshelf.